Month: September 2013

Elevator Construction Begins!

After years of waiting the Response to Love Center is starting the installation of an elevator to allow for handicapped people to access all our services. We have been serving people in the parking lot in all kinds of weather because our building has at least 10 steps at each entrance. This will change hopefully as soon as November 1 2013 with the installation of an entrance ramp and a full sized elevator. The elevator construction has begun and we are now appealing for financial help to complete the project. To see photos of the progress made CLICK HERE

Event: Protein Power Assists Local Agency Date: Saturday, March 16, 2013 Location: St. John the Baptist Church & School, 1085 Englewood Avenue, Kenmore, NY 14223 Protein Power has been the focus of St. John the Baptist’s students these past weeks. Students took up a collection of peanut butter and protein to stock the shelves of Buffalo’s Response to Love Center. Dianne LoCurto Barrali, a volunteer at the Response to Love Center, specifically partnered with the St. John’s students. Mrs. Barrali, a graduate of St. John’s Class of 1965, was aware that the school focuses on specific outreach projects, such as sending their middle school students regularly to the Loaves and Fishes Soup Kitchen and St. Luke’s Mission of Mercy. Michelle Salemi, the school’s Director of Advancement, welcomed this opportunity to raise awareness among the entire school. Ms. Salemi noted, Focusing on the proteins was really key to the success of this drive. Protein is not only an important nutrient, but it’s often an expensive one for people to afford. Having our students focus just two items—peanut butter and fish—allowed us to provide much needed protein to the agency’s food pantry and it felt especially good assisting one of our alums to help our own community. It was a perfect opportunity to combine the Catholic call for Lenten almsgiving with a worthy service project. Much power will come from this protein project! Picture: 1st row: Analee DeGlopper and Marissa Lakeman; 2nd row: Dianne LoCurto Barrali (Class of 1963) and Erin Tracy; 3rd row: Ben Leahy, Josh Warrington, and Adam Brown.

BUFFALO, NY- It was a true Christmas celebration at the Response to Love Center Tuesday. Just weeks agowhen the community center’s boiler broke, they feared they wouldn’t be able to serve those in need this holiday season. But thanks to the generosity of Western New Yorkers, the center is filled with warmth, and so are the hearts of those who gathered there today.

“It’s a time of coming together as a family, as a community, as a neighborhood, and it’s really joyful,” said the Center’s director, Sister Mary Johnice.

Hundreds of Buffalo’s less fortunate filled the Response to Love Center Christmas day. Their Christmas meals with turkey, stuffing and all the fixings didn’t just fill their bellies, they filled their hearts as well.

“There’s really a sense and a spirit here that these are our people and we’re able to provide now for them with the warmth in the building, and just the warmth of the volunteers here who come from all over WNY,” said the Center’s maintenance supervisor, Michael Gilhooly.

Volunteers were glad to share their Christmas Day with strangers who could use a smile.

“We can be kind of stressed with all the work that has to go on. But when you see who it’s going to and what it’s worth, your time, your talent, everything that you do is meaningful,” Sr. Johnice said.

This holiday season the community recognized the invaluable work the center does each and every day, and donors from across the country gave more than $100,000 to replace the broken boiler. They’ve since given the new boiler a very fitting name.

“The plaque on the boiler says ‘Emmanuel- God With Us.’ Not only for the boiler but that He will be with us continuously,” said Sr. Johnice.

By receiving this very special gift, it means the Response to Love Center can go on and keep giving.

“It’s the year of giving. It’s the year of faith, and the whole community came together, and it really showed that we’re not alone,” she said.

The center plans on using the leftover donations to add an elevator to the front of the building, so it can be accessible to even more people in need.